Living in the Light: Grace, Forgiveness, and Community

Devotional

Day 1: The Light of Christ in Darkness

Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. This truth is foundational to our faith, offering hope and assurance that no matter the challenges we face, the light of Christ prevails. The Gospel of John reminds us of this powerful reality, encouraging us to hold onto the light of Christ in our darkest moments. As we navigate through life's difficulties, we can find comfort and strength in knowing that Jesus' light is always with us, guiding us and dispelling the darkness.

[13:02]

John 1:5 (ESV): "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge or dark situation in your life. How can you invite the light of Christ into this situation today?

Day 2: Confession and Forgiveness

Confessing our sins is a vital part of our spiritual journey. The psalmist's testimony that those whose transgressions are forgiven are blessed encourages us to come before God with honesty and humility, seeking His mercy and experiencing the joy of forgiveness. When we confess our sins, we acknowledge our shortcomings and open ourselves to God's transformative grace. This act of confession not only brings us closer to God but also allows us to experience the peace and freedom that come from being forgiven.

[26:08]

Psalm 32:1-2 (ESV): "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."

Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on any unconfessed sins in your life. How can you bring these before God today and experience His forgiveness?

Day 3: Mutual Submission in Marriage

1 Peter 3:1-12 calls for mutual submission in marriage, where wives are to submit to their husbands, and husbands are to live with understanding and respect for their wives. This mutual submission reflects the way of Jesus, who calls us to love and serve one another selflessly. In a Christ-centered marriage, both partners are called to prioritize each other's needs and well-being, creating a harmonious and loving relationship that mirrors the love of Christ for His church.

[47:24]

Ephesians 5:21 (ESV): "Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Reflection: If you are married, consider how you can practice mutual submission with your spouse today. If you are not married, think about how you can apply the principle of mutual submission in your relationships with others.

Day 4: Living with the Mindset of Christ

We are called to have the same mindset as Christ, characterized by humility, compassion, and a commitment to bless others even when wronged. This Christ-like mindset transforms our relationships and communities, fostering a culture of love and peace. By adopting the mindset of Christ, we can navigate conflicts and challenges with grace, choosing to respond with kindness and understanding rather than retaliation. This way of living not only honors God but also brings healing and reconciliation to our interactions with others.

[51:37]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Reflection: Think of a recent conflict or difficult interaction you had. How can you approach similar situations with the mindset of Christ, characterized by humility and compassion?

Day 5: Accountability and Grace

While we are saved by grace through faith, we are also accountable for our actions. The gospel holds together the assurance of salvation and the call to live righteously, reminding us that we will be judged by our works and must strive to live in a way that honors God. This balance of grace and accountability encourages us to pursue holiness and integrity in our daily lives, knowing that our actions reflect our faith and commitment to Christ.

[55:36]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily actions and choices. How can you better align them with your faith in Christ, demonstrating both accountability and grace in your life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to worship and remind ourselves of the Lord's call and promise to meet us here. We began with announcements, including the five cents a meal offering to alleviate food anxiety and various community activities like discipleship classes, Bible studies, and worship services. We then turned our hearts to worship, reflecting on the words from the Gospel of John, which remind us that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness.

We sang hymns and prayed, asking God to take away our bent to sinning and to fill us with His loving spirit. We confessed our sins, acknowledging our shortcomings and seeking God's mercy. We were assured of God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and justified us by His blood. This assurance of forgiveness allows us to share the peace of Christ with one another.

We then delved into the scripture from 1 Peter 3:1-12, exploring the roles of wives and husbands within the context of the gospel. We discussed how Peter had to unlearn and relearn what it meant to be a husband and a part of a family, not just biologically but spiritually. The passage calls wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to live with understanding and respect for their wives, emphasizing mutual submission and love in the way of Jesus.

We reflected on the broader call to all believers to have the same mindset, to be sympathetic, humble, and compassionate, and to repay evil with blessings. This call to a new way of life is rooted in the gospel, which moves us from grace to gratitude to goodness. We are reminded that we are accountable to God and that our actions will be judged, but we are also saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Finally, we celebrated the Lord's Supper, remembering Jesus' sacrifice and receiving His body and blood as a means of grace. We concluded with the ordination and installation of Mark Bagwell as an elder, committing to support and pray for him as he leads us in the way of Jesus Christ.

###

Key Takeaways

1. 12 calls for mutual submission in marriage, where wives are to submit to their husbands, and husbands are to live with understanding and respect for their wives. This mutual submission reflects the way of Jesus, who calls us to love and serve one another selflessly. [47:24]
4. Living with the Mindset of Christ: We are called to have the same mindset as Christ, characterized by humility, compassion, and a commitment to bless others even when wronged. This Christ-like mindset transforms our relationships and communities, fostering a culture of love and peace.

5. Accountability and Grace: While we are saved by grace through faith, we are also accountable for our actions. The gospel holds together the assurance of salvation and the call to live righteously, reminding us that we will be judged by our works and must strive to live in a way that honors God.

### [47:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:29] - Announcements
[13:02] - Call to Worship and Gospel Reading
[26:08] - Confession and Assurance of Pardon
[34:37] - Confession of Faith
[36:15] - Pastoral Prayer
[44:58] - Introduction to 1 Peter
[47:24] - Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:1-12
[50:30] - Exhortation to Mutual Submission
[51:37] - Living with the Mindset of Christ
[55:36] - Accountability and Grace
[59:18] - Contextualizing 1 Peter 3:1-6
[61:01] - Community and Gospel Formation
[62:41] - Husbands' Role in Marriage
[67:17] - Practical Application and Reflection
[76:23] - Communion
[87:09] - The Lord's Prayer
[87:44] - Ordination of Mark Bagwell
[95:01] - Final Hymn and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does 1 Peter 3:1-12 say about the roles of wives and husbands within a marriage? How are they instructed to treat each other? [47:24]
According to the sermon, what mindset are all believers called to have, as described in 1 Peter 3:8-9? [51:37]
How does the sermon describe the process of confession and forgiveness, and what is the significance of this practice in our spiritual journey? [26:08]
What does the sermon say about the light of Christ and its power over darkness, as referenced from the Gospel of John? [13:02]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of mutual submission in marriage, as described in 1 Peter 3:1-7, reflect the way of Jesus? What does this mutual submission look like in practical terms? [47:24]
The sermon emphasizes having the same mindset as Christ, characterized by humility and compassion. How can adopting this mindset transform our relationships and communities? [51:37]
The sermon discusses the importance of accountability and grace. How do these two concepts work together in the life of a believer? [55:36]
Reflect on the assurance of forgiveness through Jesus Christ mentioned in the sermon. How does this assurance impact the way we live and interact with others? [26:08]

Application Questions

In what ways can you bring the light of Christ into the dark areas of your life or the lives of those around you? How can you be a beacon of hope and assurance? [13:02]
Confession and forgiveness are vital parts of our spiritual journey. Is there a specific sin or shortcoming you need to confess to God? How can you seek His mercy and experience the joy of forgiveness this week? [26:08]
Mutual submission in marriage is a challenging concept. If you are married, how can you practice understanding and respect towards your spouse this week? If you are not married, how can you apply the principles of mutual submission in your other relationships? [47:24]
Adopting the mindset of Christ involves humility and compassion. Think of a recent conflict or difficult situation. How can you approach it with a Christ-like mindset, characterized by humility and a commitment to bless others? [51:37]
Accountability and grace are both crucial in the Christian life. How can you hold yourself accountable to live righteously while also relying on God's grace? Is there someone in your life who can help you with this? [55:36]
Reflect on the broader call to all believers to be sympathetic, humble, and compassionate. How can you cultivate these qualities in your daily interactions? Is there a specific person or situation where you can practice these virtues this week? [51:37]
The sermon concluded with the ordination of Mark Bagwell as an elder. How can you support and pray for the leaders in your church? What specific actions can you take to encourage and uphold them in their roles? [01:27:44]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The good news of the gospel is that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not put it out. So as we gather today, in the name and the spirit, in the light of Jesus Christ, let me invite you to prepare your heart to worship." [13:02] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "People of God, children of God, hear these words of assurance. God demonstrates his own love for us in this way. While we were sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more will we be saved from God's wrath through him? Friends, believe the good news. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven." [27:03] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We receive the peace of Christ to be peacemakers. So let me invite you, receiving the peace of God, to turn to those around you that you know and those you don't and greet them with the peace of Christ." [27:03] (194 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Finally. All of you. Have the same mindset. Be sympathetic. Love one another. Be humble. And compassionate. Do not repay evil for evil. Or insults with insults. But repay evil. With a blessing. For to this you were called. So that you might inherit. A blessing." [49:30] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Learn to be the kind of people who do not give to others what they give to you. Who do not give them what they deserve. But are always and only seeking to give them the love of Jesus. The delight of the Father. The love, the joy, the peace, the patience, the kindness, the goodness, the faithfulness." [52:08] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Peter had a lot to unlearn. And a lot to learn. And so do we. So let me invite you now. To lean in and listen well. And listen carefully to 1 Peter. Chapter 3. Verses 1 to 12. Because this too is. God's word." [47:24] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We are much more likely to use a passage like this or simply to throw it out the window and what we need is to be a community formed by the gospel connected to Jesus filled with the spirit where women can gather and ask what is God saying to us in a passage like this." [01:01:01] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Husbands do not leave your wives at home to be homemakers listen to Peter in the way of Jesus make a home with them it's literally what the Greek verb is make a home with them knowing them knowing them and being one with them tenderness and delight serving them honoring them Peter says in the way the Father Son and Holy Spirit honor them." [01:02:41] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Let's have the mindset of Jesus let's see others in all of who they are including their pain and let's love them like a family with humility humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less and that joy of self-forgiveness can only come when we stop comparing ourselves to each other and start comparing ourselves to the one who is above us who live for us who died for us and who rose again for us." [01:07:17] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We need to learn to pray through these passages and practice the way of Jesus together wives husbands all of us widowed single married never married we have a whole nother level of challenge before us to love life and to see good days to learn together to keep our tongues from evil and our lips from deceit to really seek peace and pursue it and that seems incredibly hard." [01:08:58] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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